Geest

The Geest refers to a type of landscape in Northern Germany, Flanders, the Netherlands and Denmark, which is created by sand deposits during the ice ages, and contrary to march stands. Since the Geest from its nature represents an elevated level, it is also called ridge of sand or back. The term itself is a nominalization of the Low German adjectives confess ( "dry", " barren " ) or guest ( " barren " in lactating animals).

In the northwestern Lower German this landscape type is also called guest, which explained some place names such as Tergast or Holt guest. Occasionally, the term spirit (fem. ) is used, as in Geistviertel, high spirit or Hölzengeist.

Mark

Geest landscapes are generally higher than the march. They consist of end moraines, ground moraines saaleeiszeitlicher embossing ( High Geest ) or Weichsel glacial Sandern ( Low Geest ). This Altmoränenlandschaft was during the Eemian interglacial of flight sands and then overprinted by Sandern the following Weichseleiszeit. Additional erosion created relief and aquatic poorer areas. They have a significant relationship to the plates inland. Frequently one finds, therefore, sandy, infertile soil. Here especially potato is cultivated. The forest cover consists mainly of pine trees. However, most stands of trees were destroyed in the course of colonization. By constantly bite the young shoots by cattle may arise pygmy owl ( Gentiles ). Elementary and Endmoränengebiete are more fertile than Sander and are passed by nature with deciduous forest (by a beech). Very sandy Geest areas are much less fertile than the marshes or the Weichselian time- stamped moraine landscapes around the eastern hill country in Schleswig -Holstein. Typical is this landscape form for large parts of Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg -Western Pomerania, Schleswig -Holstein and Hamburg.

Characteristic of many Geest landscapes of the coastal states are the Knicks, a North German special form of Wall hedge that is cut back at regular intervals on the floor and provides protection against wind and sand drift. Knicks were once used also for the production of wicker and wood for fencing and as fuel.

Where the moraine adjacent to the sea, cliffs form, so-called cliffs.

Settlement history

In the history of settlement in northern Germany, the Geest was earlier than the march inhabited since they offered protection from storm surges. Therefore, you will find both on the mainland and on the Geest cores of the islands megalithic tombs of the Stone Age.

The Geest - march - limit also provides settlement and cultural history is a limit dar. So the Frisians settled preferably in marshy areas. Even within the Saxon populated areas, there was a separation of peasant Geest and Marsh cultures was also determined by the difference in fertility of the fields. For residents march it was to the 20th century as improper to marry someone of the Geest, there came this way no fertile land in the family.

Examples

Examples of Geest landscapes are:

• The Burgdorf- Peine Geest
• The Cloppenburg Geest near Cloppenburg
• The Frisian Wehde southwest of the Jade Bay
• The Geesthang between Wedel, Altona and Hamburg -Neustadt and between Hamburg -St. Georg, Bergedorf, Geesthacht and Lauenburg north of the Elbe
• The Geest cores of the islands Amrum, Fohr and Sylt
• The Hanoverian Moor Geest
• The heath Itzehoer Geest
• The Hümmling in Emsland
• The Lüneburg Heath in Lower Saxony
• The Munsterlander Kiessandzug
• The Rehdener Geest Moor
• The Schleswigsche Geest
• Stader Geest between Stade, Bremerhaven, Achim and Verden (Aller ) with their sub-areas: Achim - Verden Geest the Lintelner Geest

• Easter Holzer Geest
• The Wurster heath or High Lieth between Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven
• The Wingst northwest of Hemmoor (Lower Saxony)
• The Westerberg